Schaefer Engineering
Schaefer Engineering is a Wentzville, MO-based forensic engineering consulting firm providing fire, explosion, accident, product failure, and metallurgical investigations to law firms, insurers, manufacturers, and municipalities nationwide. Services are delivered by a team of P.E.-licensed engineers using 3D scanning, drones, and a proprietary video streaming platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersWentzville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Schaefer Engineering does
Schaefer Engineering, Inc. is a privately held forensic engineering consulting firm headquartered in Wentzville, Missouri, operating nationwide for over two decades. The firm provides technical investigation and expert witness services across fire and explosion causation, vehicular and non-vehicular accident reconstruction, product and system failure analysis, and materials and metallurgical engineering, serving law firms, insurance companies, manufacturers, independent adjusting companies, third-party administrators, truck lines, municipalities, and individuals. Its operations are led by a team of approximately 13 professional engineers, the majority holding P.E. licenses with specialized forensic credentials (NAFI-CFEI, NAFI-CVFI, IAAI-CFI). The firm is led by President Diane Bicknese and is certified as a Women's Business Enterprise through WBENC.
The firm's service offering is supported by purpose-built physical and technical infrastructure, including a 2,500 sq. ft. metallurgical and materials laboratory with stereomicroscopes and metallurgical microscopes, a high-bay multi-party examination area, 7,000 sq. ft. of secured evidence storage, FAA-licensed Part 107 drone operations, 3D laser scanning and terrestrial scanning capabilities, photogrammetry, CT scanning integration, CAD-based reconstructive modeling, Bosch CDR data retrieval, and a proprietary forensic video streaming system with 4K PTZ cameras and 85-inch monitors for remote attorney and insurer participation. The technology stack is imaging- and documentation-oriented rather than AI-driven, and is applied across all investigative service lines to produce photorealistic scene representations and expert-grade evidence.
Schaefer Engineering operates a sales-led, professional services business model, billing clients at hourly rates (a disclosed $190/hour for professional consulting) on a pay-as-you-go engagement basis. Go-to-market is driven by industry-conference presentations, professional training seminars, an owned educational video series ('The Expert Report'), Facebook presence, and direct B2B relationships with insurance panels and law firms. No revenue, funding rounds, M&A activity, or external institutional ownership are disclosed in the source materials.
Schaefer Engineering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Schaefer Engineering
- Legal name
- Schaefer Engineering, Inc.
- Website
- https://schaefereng.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Schaefer Engineering is a Wentzville, MO-based forensic engineering consulting firm providing fire, explosion, accident, product failure, and metallurgical investigations to law firms, insurers, manufacturers, and municipalities nationwide. Services are delivered by a team of P.E.-licensed engineers using 3D scanning, drones, and a proprietary video streaming platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Schaefer Engineering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Forensic Engineering Consulting
- NAICS
- Engineering Services (541330), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forensic Engineering & Failure Analysis Consulting (BPAHAIAO)
Keywords
Where Schaefer Engineering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wentzville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Schaefer Engineering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Forensic Consulting Services: Billable professional engineering consulting services provided to law firms, insurance companies, manufacturers, independent adjusting companies, third party administrators, truck lines, municipalities, and individuals. Services include forensic investigation, expert testimony, and technical analysis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Standard professional consulting rate |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Schaefer Engineering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Schaefer Engineering provides professional forensic engineering investigation and consulting services nationwide to law firms, insurance companies, manufacturers, independent adjusting companies, third-party administrators, trucking companies, municipalities, and individuals. Core offerings include fire and explosion causation analysis, vehicular and non-vehicular accident reconstruction, product and system failure investigation, materials and metallurgical engineering analysis, and supporting 3D laser scanning, drone documentation, and forensic video streaming capabilities from a dedicated laboratory facility in Wentzville, MO.
Product overview
Schaefer Engineering is a forensic engineering investigation and consulting services firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialized services. The core offering consists of seven interconnected service areas: Fire & Explosion Causation Investigation, Accident Investigation & Reconstruction, Product & System Evaluation, Materials & Metallurgical Engineering, Forensic Engineering Testing & Lab Services, 3D Innovation Applied, and Forensic Video Streaming. These services are supported by the firm's extensive laboratory facilities including a metallurgical lab, high bay area, and evidence storage. The 3D Innovation Applied and Forensic Video Streaming services provide technology-enabled documentation and remote collaboration capabilities that enhance all investigative services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fire & Explosion Causation Investigation Investigation of fires and explosions involving structures, vehicles, and equipment to determine origin and cause. Service is provided to law firms, insurance companies, manufacturers, municipalities, and other clients as expert witness support and claims analysis.
- Accident Investigation & Reconstruction Investigation, analysis, and reconstruction of on-road and off-road accidents, including vehicular accident reconstruction using event data recorder analysis and 3D data collection. Provided to insurance carriers, law firms, trucking companies, and municipalities.
- Product & System Evaluation Investigation of failures and incidents involving mechanical and electrical products, processes, and systems, including product failure analysis. Provided primarily to manufacturers, insurers, and law firms.
- Materials & Metallurgical Engineering Evaluation and failure analysis of ferrous, non-ferrous, and non-metallic materials, including corrosion investigation and materials testing and characterization, performed in the firm's 2,500 sq. ft. materials and metallurgical laboratory.
- Forensic Engineering Testing & Lab Services Use of Schaefer Engineering's professional offices, video presentation conference room, 2,500 sq. ft. laboratory with adjacent high bay area, materials and metallurgical laboratory, and 7,000 sq. ft. of secured, fire/sprinkler-protected evidence storage for multi-party forensic examinations and lab work.
- 3D Innovation Applied 3D modeling service using 3D laser scanning equipment, FAA-licensed drones, and analytical software packages to produce photorealistic imagery and three-dimensional models of structures, vehicles, equipment, and incident scenes for unbiased and accurate representations.
- Forensic Video Streaming Advanced video monitoring, streaming, and recording system purposely designed and built for forensic investigations and evidence examinations. Features 4K PTZ cameras, 85-inch 4K monitors, and support for multiple video sources including microscopes, computer-based resources, and guest device sharing, with real-time online streaming for remote participation by counsel, experts, and other parties.
Companies that use Schaefer Engineering
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Schaefer Engineering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Schaefer Engineering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Schaefer Engineering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EFI Global: National forensic engineering, fire investigation, and environmental consulting firm serving insurance carriers, law firms, and corporations — competes head-to-head in fire causation, accident reconstruction, and product failure analysis.
- Rimkus Consulting Group: Forensic engineering and technical consulting firm offering failure analysis, accident reconstruction, and expert witness services to insurance, legal, and industrial clients — overlapping services and customer segments.
- Haag Engineering: Long-established forensic engineering firm specializing in failure analysis, fire investigation, accident reconstruction, and expert testimony for insurance and legal clients — directly comparable core services, customer base, and business model.
- ARCCA: Forensic engineering and accident reconstruction firm serving insurance carriers, attorneys, and corporate clients with fire, vehicle, and product failure analysis — comparable services and customer mix.
- Engineering Systems Inc. (ESi): Forensic engineering and failure analysis firm providing accident reconstruction, fire investigation, materials analysis, and expert testimony — comparable services to insurance and legal clients with similar mid-size consulting model.
- Donan: Forensic engineering firm specializing in fire origin and cause, vehicle fire investigation, product failure, and accident reconstruction with strong insurance and legal client focus — closely comparable niche specialization.
- Jensen Hughes: Global leader in fire protection engineering, forensic investigations, and security consulting with extensive expert-witness and failure analysis practices serving insurance, legal, and corporate clients — a direct competitor with broader geographic and service reach.
- S-E-A (Scientific Expert Analysis Labs): Forensic engineering and failure analysis firm with fire investigation, accident reconstruction, and materials testing capabilities for insurance, legal, and industrial clients — closely matched niche services.
- Vertex Engineering: Engineering consultancy providing forensic investigation, failure analysis, accident reconstruction, and expert witness services — directly comparable practice areas and customer segments.
Broad incumbents
- Exponent: Large multidisciplinary engineering and scientific consulting firm with extensive failure analysis, accident reconstruction, and expert testimony practices — overlaps significantly but serves a broader, more diversified client base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Schaefer Engineering social profiles
Digital presenceSchaefer Engineering compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Schaefer Engineering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Schaefer Engineering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Schaefer Engineering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Schaefer Engineering M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Schaefer Engineering
What does Schaefer Engineering do?
Schaefer Engineering provides professional forensic engineering investigation and consulting services nationwide to law firms, insurance companies, manufacturers, independent adjusting companies, third-party administrators, trucking companies, municipalities, and individuals. Core offerings include fire and explosion causation analysis, vehicular and non-vehicular accident reconstruction, product and system failure investigation, materials and metallurgical engineering analysis, and supporting 3D laser scanning, drone documentation, and forensic video streaming capabilities from a dedicated laboratory facility in Wentzville, MO.
Is Schaefer Engineering a public or private company?
Schaefer Engineering is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Schaefer Engineering founded?
Schaefer Engineering was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Schaefer Engineering based?
Schaefer Engineering is headquartered in Wentzville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Schaefer Engineering make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Forensic Consulting Services.
Who are Schaefer Engineering's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EFI Global, Rimkus Consulting Group, Haag Engineering, ARCCA, Engineering Systems Inc. (ESi), Donan, Jensen Hughes, S-E-A (Scientific Expert Analysis Labs) and Vertex Engineering. Exponent is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Schaefer Engineering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Schaefer Engineering.
What industry is Schaefer Engineering in?
Schaefer Engineering's product category is Forensic Engineering Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAO, Forensic Engineering & Failure Analysis Consulting. Its NAICS code is 541330 and its SIC code is 8711.